there is no uncertainty calling for postponements?'

Marian raised her eyes, and was about to speak as she regarded him; but
with the first accent her look fell.

'I wish to be your wife.'

He waited, thinking and struggling with himself.

'Yet you feel that it would be heartless to take and use this money for
our own purposes?'

'What is to become of my parents, Jasper?'

'But then you admit that the fifteen hundred pounds won't support them.
You talk of earning fifty pounds a year for them.'

'Need I cease to write, dear, if we were married? Wouldn't you let me
help them?'

'But, my dear girl, you are taking for granted that we shall have enough
for ourselves.'

'I didn't mean at once,' she explained hurriedly. 'In a short time--in
a year. You are getting on so well. You will soon have a sufficient
income, I am sure.'

Jasper rose.

'Let us walk as far as the next seat. Don't speak. I have something to
think about.'

Moving on beside him, she slipped her hand softly within his arm; but
Jasper did not put the arm into position to support hers, and her hand
fell again, dropped suddenly. They reached another bench, and again
became seated.

'It comes to this, Marian,' he said, with portentous gravity. 'Support
you, I could--I have little doubt of that. Maud is provided for, and
Dora can make a living for herself. I could support you and leave you
free to give your parents whatever you can earn by your own work. But--'

He paused significantly. It was his wish that Marian should supply the
consequence, but she did not speak.

'Very well,' he exclaimed. 'Then when are we to be married?'

The tone of resignation was too marked. Jasper was not good as a
comedian; he lacked subtlety.

'We must wait,' fell from Marian's lips, in the whisper of despair.

'Wait? But how long?' he inquired, dispassionately.

'Do you wish to be freed from your engagement, Jasper?'

He was not strong enough to reply with a plain 'Yes,' and so have done
with his perplexities. He feared the girl's face, and he feared his own
subsequent emotions.

'Don't talk in that way, Marian. The question is simply this: Are we
to wait a year, or are we to wait five years? In a year's time, I shall
probably be able to have a small house somewhere out in the suburbs. If
we are married then, I shall be happy enough with so good a wife, but my
career will take a different shape. I shall just throw overboard certain
of my ambitions, and w